Thai Yoga Massage

Have you ever heard about Thai Yoga Massage? Have you ever received one? If you haven't, they are incredible. It's a wonderful way to experience a different type of yoga.

Thai Yoga Massage, or simply, Thai massage, is a system of massage that was developed in Thailand that has influences from traditional medicine systems of India, China, Southeast Asia, as well as yoga.

The massage recipient wears loose, comfortable clothes and lies on a large firm mattress on the floor. It can be done solo or in a group of a dozen or so students in a large room. The receiver is then positioned in a variety of yoga-like positions during the course of the massage, but deep static and rhythmic pressures form the core of the massage.

The massage practitioner leans on the recipient's body using hands and usually straight forearms locked at the elbow to apply firm rhythmic pressure. The massage generally follows designated lines in the body. Legs and feet of the giver can be used to fixate the body or limbs of the recipient. In other positions, hands fixate the body, while the feet do the massaging action. A full Thai massage session typically lasts two hours or more, and includes rhythmic pressing and stretching of the entire body; this may include pulling fingers, toes, ears, cracking the knuckles, walking on the recipient's back, and manipulating the recipients body into many different positions. There is a standard procedure and rhythm to the massage, which the practitioner will adjust to fit each individual client.

The benefits of the Thai Massage are many: relief from multiple ailments ranging from asthma and migraines to sprains, bruises, and anxiety. More generally, the recipient can gain greater range of motion in their lims, flexibility, and overall peace of mind and body. The giver also benefits from the practice because they, too, are positioning themselves into therapeutic physcial postures while giving the massage.

A variation of the rhythmic flow of Thai Yoga Massage will be offered during the Men's Yoga Retreat that John Cottrell is leading in Costa Rica this summer at Blue Osa Yoga & Spa: May 23-29, 2015. One can still register for the retreat which will offer yoga, of course, as well as other wonderful excursions for a well rounded experience, at www.MensYogaRetreat.com.